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Michelle Amaya Schmidt welcomed her first child, a boy, Asher Hunter Schmidt on January 13, 2016. He was born at Lovelace Women’s Hospital after months of anticipation and preparation. Michelle joined the Lovelace Labor of Love program to learn more about what to expect during her first pregnancy, while taking advantage of every opportunity to give her baby the best start possible. “I was immediately drawn to the Labor of Love program,” she says.

“I knew nursing was my path,” shares Lovelace Regional Hospital – Roswell CEO Dawn Tschabrun, RN of her 31-year professional career and lifelong interest in nursing. It all began in her South Central Nebraska hometown, where Dawn was introduced to health care through her mother’s job as a materials management tech at their local community hospital. By high school, Dawn volunteered as a candy striper and met a charge nurse named Rita, who took her under her wing and opened her eyes to the field of nursing.

If you watch CBS Sunday Morning, you may have seen Kathy Bates share her story as a breast cancer survivor who experienced lymphedema after her mastectomy. As a spokesperson for the Lymphatic Education and Research Network, Ms. Bates has shared her journey with medical professionals and with the media.

Empathy is the ability to identify with another person’s feelings. The ability to see and feel things as others see and feel them is central to competent parenting and successful social relationships in all stages of life.

Lovelace Labor of Love is proud to support Roots of Empathy, a curriculum for elementary school children that teaches empathy, social and emotional skills, and reduces aggression.

“Knowing you are not alone is the most important,” shares Darrell Yazza. “There are other people who have been through it and they’re doing well.” Once a month, Darrell brings the perspective only a stroke survivor would understand to stroke patients at Lovelace UNM Rehabilitation Hospital.

Concern continues to build as The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a recent report that more than 300 people in the United States have contracted the Zika virus, 31 of those being pregnant women. The majority of cases are travel-associated cases with only locally acquired cases in Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and American Samoa. The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) reports one case of a 46-year-old Bernalillo County man who contracted Zika while traveling in Central America.

Spring brings new life around each corner and we enjoy seeing growing bellies as moms visit our birthing centers. This spring, we are happy to take time to salute all mothers and mother figures for the widely celebrated Mother’s Day holiday. At Labor of Love, we recognize the extensive array of emotions this day can bring. Mother’s Day is celebrated in more than 40 countries worldwide. Although the season or time of year may vary for this celebration, love for mother is often shown with flowers, cards, hugs, kisses or a special meal made by someone other than mom.

Dr. William Cole, 77, has played bass clarinet throughout his life since high school. The retired family medicine physician joined a local band in Albuquerque, playing more regularly over the last two years than he was able to during his 34-year career practicing medicine in Juneau, AK. It was just one of the perks of retiring to New Mexico five years ago – the biggest perk being close to his daughter and three grandchildren. Retirement seemed to be treating him well in the warmth of an unseasonably mild winter, until one Thursday morning in February.

“I told my husband, ‘I just don’t feel right,’” Tonnie Lucero, 62 recalls. “I was tired, sleepy, had gained weight and felt bloated. I didn’t know why.” Tonnie picked up the phone and scheduled an appointment with her primary care physician for a complete physical. Blood work revealed she was anemic, which would explain why she was fatigued.

Lovelace robotic surgeon Dr. Wayne Kuang joins us on the blog today to discuss a topic that affects men across the globe, yet many do not feel comfortable discussing: erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence.